Do Teresa and Jase have a real shot at getting together or will life get in the way?

Teresa Hamilton is having a rough year—she’s in love with her big
brother’s best friend, but he hasn’t spoken to her since they shared a
truly amazing, mind-blowing, life-changing kiss. Then she got out of a
terrible relationship. Now an injury is threatening to end her dance
career for good. It’s time for plan B: college. And maybe she’ll have a
chance to convince Jase that what they have together is real.

Jase Winstead has a huge secret that he’s not telling
anyone—especially not his best friend’s incredibly beautiful sister.
Even though he and Teresa shared the hottest kiss of his life, he knows
that his responsibilities must take priority. He certainly doesn’t have
time for a relationship. But it doesn’t help that all he can think about
is kissing the one girl who could ruin everything for him.

As they’re thrown together more and more, Jase and Teresa can’t keep
denying their feelings for each other. But a familiar danger looms and
tragedy strikes. As the campus recovers, the star-crossed couple must
decide what they’re willing to risk to be together and what they’re
willing to lose if they’re not. . . .

Okay so this is finally the story of Jase and Tess (Teresa). You see a tiny little smidge of something about them in Wait For You, but you really don't know exactly what happened - you just get an inkling that they have a story of their own to tell and boy do they! At the end of Be With Me we get to read the scene that I'm referencing to (in Wait For You, you just know something happened, but not what).

So... Tess is a dancer and have been accepted on scholarship to a prestigious dancing school , but an injury to her leg has caused her to attend the same college as her brother, it's her backup plan while her leg heals. She is desperate to get back on the stage and doesn't really take school seriously at first. She also has been in an abusive relationship in the past and this adds to her character - she's more than just a dancer and pretty girl, she has baggage of her own.

Then enters Jase - her big brothers best friend, whom she has been crushing on for years. She has the hots for him and you can tell her likes her too. He's distant and acts like it's because she is Cam's little sister that he won't act on his feelings. But really you can feel the pull between the two of them and it drives you a little bonkers watching them try to be friends, but really wanting more.

Jase is this sexy, confident and sweet farm boy who could have any girl he wanted, but he doesn't date. He is a little cocky at times, but his sweetness almost makes up for it. He hooks up from time to time, but nothing serious... ever. He has his reasons and they are really good ones once you read the book. He's afraid to let anyone into his life, and Tess attempts to burrow her way into his life little by little.

Honestly, I liked the story of Jase and Tess, but I found some of the side story to overwhelm the relationship building. I think I just wanted more of them together and less of the drama. I can say that the drama is quite interesting as there are two major things that happen - one is Jase's past and the other happens in Tess' present. Once you know Jase's secret you'll melt a little - I did - and you'll understand why he has a hard time letting people in.

I'd like to see more of their future now that I know the story of how they came to be together. And I enjoyed seeing a little glimpse of Cam and Avery throughout the novel too. I'm still a sucker for Cam. I really enjoy these series where characters pop in and out of the books and the next books are based on other characters from the storyline. Makes for a more interesting series than just following the same two people for a few books.

And I'm really enjoying J. Lynn (Jennifer L Armentrout) as this is the first series of hers that I've read. I will definitely be checking out Stay With Me when it releases this fall.

#1 New York Times and USA Today bestselling author
J. Lynn lives in Martinsburg, West Virginia. When she’s not hard at work
writing, she spends her time reading, working out, watching really bad
zombie movies, pretending to write, and hanging out with her husband and
her Jack Russell terrier, Loki.

6 comments:

I love Armentrout's YA series (Lux and The Covenant), and I think I have all of her straight-up romances (she's a auto-buy for me), but I haven't gotten around to reading them yet. BUT--this makes me want to. Great review!

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